| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| A Psalm of David. |
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| 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. |
The LORD – Jehovah. E45; F251, F396
Jehovah, the great over-shepherd, appointed his Son to be the under-shepherd. R5490:1, R2706:5
In David's day, the arrangements for the shepherd and the flock of John 10:1-16 had not been completed. R2672:1
All the features of this Psalm are applicable to our Redeemer himself, as well as to his followers. R5653:6
Is my shepherd – Jehovah is the shepherd in the largest sense of the word; Jesus is the great shepherd to all the flock; every local elder is a shepherd in a local capacity. F251
Fed by Messiah "in the strength of Jehovah." (Mic 5:4) E45
Originally the Jewish nation constituted this flock, David himself being one of the sheep. R5490:2
In the present time, the Little Flock only. R3268:3, R1396:2
The only begotten Son is called the Lamb of God, and all his people are styled his sheep. R2441:2
Of the antitypical David--Christ, Head and Body. R4851:3, R5490:3
The shepherd has particular care over the affairs of spiritual Israel. R5490:2, R5491:1
Sheep are meek, docile; when they hear the voice of the shepherd, they run to obey it. R3116:2
I shall not want – Temporal necessities. "Bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure." (Isa. 33:16) R1745:2, R4279:3
Light. "Unto him shall be given the light of life." (John 8:12) R1745:2
Care and discipline. "Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son." (Heb 12:6) R1745:5, R4279:3
Consolation and fellowship. "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Heb 13:5) R1745:5
Anything. "All things work together for good to them that love God." (Rom 8:28) R1396:3, R5654:2
The only condition connected with this promise is that we shall abide in his love and follow his directions. R4279:3
Those who are proper sheep trust wholly to his guidance, and are thus relieved of that anxious craving so common to the world. R3269:2
Though the promises of God's Word may not hinder us from feeling pain, they will modify the pain and its frequency. R2083:3
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| 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. |
To lie down – To rest, the rest of faith. R3116:5, R4279:5
This rest, this peace of heart, is absolutely essential to our development as New Creatures. R4279:5
In green pastures – Of spiritual refreshment, private devotions, studies of divine things, and Christian fellowship. R3269:3
Being spiritually fed and refreshed. R5654:2
We shall be bountifully fed with meat in due season. R1396:5
He leadeth me – Away from the strife of worldly ambition. R3269:4
Divine leading is necessary to find the streams of truth and grace. R3269:4
To appreciate the desirableness of his ways and the undesirableness of every other way. R5654:3
Shielding us from every foe and the dangerous pitfalls that lie in our path. R5490:6
The still waters – The deep waters of Present Truth. R3295:6
Streams of truth and grace. R3269:4, R5654:2
Living, but comparatively quiet waters. R3269:4
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| 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. |
Restoreth my soul – Justified me to life. R3269:5, R1396:5
He brings me back to himself. R5654:3
In the paths – The path marked out by the Word of the Lord as one of meekness, faith, patience, love, etc. R1646:5
Of righteousness – Suitable for spiritual development. R3269:5
All his ways are perfect, righteous. R5654:3
For his name's sake – Because we are his and because we trust in his name, in his merit. R1396:5
Because I am his child I bear his name. R3116:5
His promise is involved; his honor is at stake. R4280:1
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| 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. |
Yea, though I walk – In common with all the rest of the world of mankind. R3269:5, R5654:3
Through the valley – Far below the mountaintops of life and perfection. R360:3
The valley of sin, with its broad road to destruction and its narrow way to life. R3269:5
The farther we go into this valley the darker it becomes, until the last spark of life expires. R15:2
Of the shadow – The journey of life, since the fall, has been through a vale of tears, upon which rests the shadow of death. R3116:5
Lingering on the brink of death. T90
Of death – I was born in this valley and I shall die in it. R1396:5
We have been in this valley for more than 6000 years, but the end of it is near. R4280:2, R5654:4
I will fear no evil – No failure of thy sure covenant. R1396:5
Because the Shepherd is with us. R4280:3
They realize that divine love has provided a redemption R3269:6
We should seek to drive away our fears, giving heed to God's Word, having it before our minds and considering its precious promises concerning God's love and care. Q272:2
For thou art with me – Even here. R1396:5
Thy rod – Such chastisements as are necessary to correct me and to bring me back into fellowship with the flock. R2672:5, R4663:1
And thy staff – Of promise and hope. R1396:5
Of providential care. R1721:3
A rod for our correction; a staff for our relief, assistance, and protection. R4280:3
Even straying sheep the Shepherd will not leave. R5654:2
If one becomes overcharged with the cares of this life the Lord may permit affliction or disaster to teach a lesson that could not otherwise be learned. R4663:1
They comfort me – Protect me from difficulties and defend me from enemies. R3269:6
"Before I was afflicted I went astray." (Psa. 119:67) F648
The rod and the staff are designed to bring back the sheep from some course leading in the wrong direction, away from the Shepherd's footsteps. F648
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| 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. |
Thou – As my host. R3270:1
Preparest a table – To the end that his children should be so full of happiness as to bubble over all the time. R1494:2
Divine truth. R3270:2
Clean, good, orderly, bountiful, beautiful. (Contrast Isa. 28:8) R1475:2
The Lord girds himself and sets before us rich things from his storehouse--things old and new. R4280:5, R3455:5
Especially since his presence. R4280:5
The privilege of feasting at this table, even when misunderstood and opposed, represents God's provision and favor to his people. R5654:4
Of mine enemies – The Adversary and the wicked spirits in high places. R3270:1
They see the bounties and feel jealous, but refuse to accept the good things we would so freely share with them. R3396:1
Anointest my head – Christ Jesus, the Head of the Body. R5654:5, R3270:4
With oil – Symbol of the holy Spirit. T116
My cup – Both of joy and sorrow, sweet and bitter; represented in the communion cup. R3270:4, R5654:5
Our cup is full, but we would not wish it one drop less. R5654:5
It represents sorrows unto death. R4555:5
Runneth over – A cup of joy and of sorrow; in both respects it overflows. R3270:4, R4280:6, R4555:5
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| 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. |
Surely goodness – The few who can join in this expression of confidence have therein a great joy and rest of heart which none others possess. R5425:2
Shall follow me – "Pursue me" appears to be the stricter translation. R4280:6
It has already begun, and will follow beyond the veil. R3270:4
God's goodness and mercy, following us every day and every moment, making all things work together for our good. R5654:6
And I will dwell – In the present life, through faith. R2642:5
In the house – The heavenly state, in the Father's house on high. R3270:5, R5654:6; CR92:3
Of the LORD for ever – As his child, a member of his household. R3116:5
He will be our Shepherd to the end of the way, receiving us into the glorious condition at the end of the journey. CR92:3
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